RESEARCH

Dr. Dimitrios Kostopoulos & Konstantine Rizopoulos, along with their organizations Hands-On Seminars & Hands-On Physical Therapy support research initiatives in the area of Manual Therapy & Rehabilitation. Both companies have an annual allocated budget to support research initiated by employees and associates of our organizations.

At the same time we support research initiatives by the American Physical Therapy Association and the International Myopain Society.

Dr. Kostopoulos is Associate Editor of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies and Hands-On Seminars endorses it. A brief sample of articles from this journal is provided here .

Here are some of the articles published by our associates:
 

Improving posture: Comparing Segmental Stretch and Muscular Chains Therapy José Luís Pimentel do Rosário, Inês Yoshie Nakashima, Konstantine Rizopoulos, Dimitrios Kostopoulos, Amélia Pasqual Marques Clinical Chiropractic 10 January 2013 (Article in Press DOI: 10.1016/j.clch.2012.10.039) Muscular Chains Therapy (MCT), which uses postural positions for global stretching, and Segmental Stretch Technique (SST), which stretches one muscle at a time, are two static stretching techniques currently used to improve, correct and treat postural imbalances. Aiming to identify which of these two techniques is most effective in order to improve standing posture, 30 women between 21 and 30 years old were evaluated and divided into three groups of 10 participants each: The SST group, the MCT Group and the Control Group (CG). Postures were evaluated before and after treatment through digital photographs. After transferring the images to the computer, tracings were made with Corel Draw software using six marked anatomical points: intertragic notch; anterior part of the lateral border of the acromion; suprasternal notch; posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS); anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS); the inferior angle of the scapula; and right lateral malleolus. The two experimental groups underwent eight sessions of stretching, twice a week, for about 30 min each session. The MCT Group was found more effective (p < 0.05) than the SST and CG in the variables ASIS (p = 0.001), PSIS (p = 0.001) and acromion (p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in postural variables scapula, acromion-line and line-intertragic notch. In conclusion, the MCT stretching was superior to the SST in treating postural deviations. View full article

Points of Clarification: Delineating the distinction between acupuncture and dry needling for trigger-point pain By Dimitrios Kostopoulos, PT, MD, PhD, DSc, ECS, and Konstantine Rizopoulos, PT, DPT, MCMT Two instrument-assisted means of treating chronic pain conditions due to MyoFascial Trigger Points are acupuncture and trigger-point dry needling. Unfortunately, many therapists confuse the terms acupuncture and dry needling, or use the terms interchangeably. However, a clear and definitive distinction exists between the two modalities, and a distinction must be made to avoid confusion. Hands-On Seminars founders Dr. Kostopoulos and Dr. Rizopoulos expand the horizon of understanding of these techniques by explaining the differences in a thorough manner. Delineating the distinction between acupuncture and dry needling for trigger-point pain

 

TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING Trigger Point Dry Needling is an effective approach for the treatment of MyoFascial Trigger Points. Dr. Kostopoulos and Dr. Rizopoulos have learned, researched, practiced and taught this very effective approach for many years. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy - FSBPT as well as the American Physical Therapy Association - APTA published their position papers supporting the use of Dry Needling by Physical Therapists. It is the view of Hands-On Seminars that Dry Needling is a therapeutic modality that fits within the scope of the physical therapy profession. We encourage PT programs to include dry needling as part of their undergraduate teaching curriculum. Hands-On Seminars and its founders offer courses in Dry Needling. FSBPT Intramuscular Manual Therapy Dry Needling Resource Paper APTA Dry Needling Resource Paper

 

Trigger Points: An Elusive Foe Teaching myofascial trigger point therapy for over 18 years to more than 30,000 therapists worldwide, Dr. Kostopoulos and Dr. Rizopoulos have come to realize that while therapists treat myofascial trigger points, many of them successfully, few of them have a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of a myofascial trigger point. With this article the worldknown experts provide a summary of various mechanisms responsible for the genesis of myofascial trigger points. Trigger Point Article Advance

 
 

Effect of topical aerosol skin refrigerant (Spray and Stretch technique) on passive and active stretching. Dimitrios Kostopoulos PT, PhD, DSc, MCMT and Konstantine Rizopoulos PT, FABS, MCMT . This study was sponsored by St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine. Summary Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the use of a vapocoolant blend of pentafluoropropane and tetrafluoroethane (Gebauer's Spray and Stretch) on hip flexion stretching. Methods: Thirty volunteers were randomly assigned to spray and stretch treatment and stretch only control groups. Each group was assessed pre- and posttest on passive and active hip flexion range of motion (ROM). Results: Findings indicated greater posttest hip flexion gains for the spray and stretch group over the stretch only group for both active and passive ROM. Additionally, females achieved greater pre- and posttest differences on active ROM compared to males. Conclusions: Study findings suggest that spray and stretch techniques can be an effective treatment in increasing hip flexion ROM.

 
 

Nerve conduction velocities in the lower extremity in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and clinical applications Dimitrios Kostopoulos PT, PhD, DSc, Konstantine Rizopoulos PT, FABS and Nikolaos Vartholomeos PT, DPT Summary Background and purpose: The purpose of the study is to study the nerve conductivity of the tibial motor, peroneal motor, peroneal sensory, and sural nerves in patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Subjects: Twenty each: primary RP, secondary RP, and normal controls. Methods: Electromyography using distal latency (DL) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) as dependent variables. Results: Peroneal nerve DLs were slower and NCVs were weaker for the secondary RP group compared to the primary RP group and controls. Tibial motor nerve DLs from slowest to fastest were: primary RP, secondary RP, and controls. NCV strength order was: secondary RP weakest, primary RP, and controls. Discussion: Patients with secondary RP generally had the slowest DLs and the weakest NCVs, with differences most pronounced in the motor nerves. With the exception of the tibial motor nerve, patients with primary RP had similar NCVs to the control group. Neural mobilization techniques can be applied to assist with patient symptoms.

 
 

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a review of the non-surgical approaches with emphasis in neural mobilization Dimitrios Kostopoulos Abstract: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) results from the entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist. It is the most common entrapment syndrome causing frequent disability especially to working populations. Aside from the surgical release approach there are other non-invasive therapeutic methods for the treatment of CTS. This paper will review the evidence regarding neurodynamic testing and neuromobilization of the median nerve as a treatment approach to CTS.

 
 

Reduction of Spontaneous Electrical Activity and Pain Perception of Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle Through Trigger Point Compression and Passive Stretching Dimitrios Kostopoulos, PT, PhD, DSc Arthur J. Nelson, Jr., PT, PhD Reuben S. Ingber, MD Ralph W. Larkin, PhD ABSTRACT: Objectives: Investigate the effects of ischemic compression [IC] technique and passive stretching [PS] in isolation and in combination on the reduction of spontaneous electrical activity [SEA] and perceived pain in trigger points [TrPs] located in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Ninety participants with TrPs in the upper trapezius muscle were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: IC, PS, and IC + PS. TrP compression was applied on the TrP for three applications of 60 seconds each, followed by a 30-second rest period. PS was applied for three 45-second applications, with 30-second rest intervals. All patients received the same amount of therapy. Results: Significant decreases were found in pain perception and on SEA for all study participants. The IC + PS group evidenced greater declines in pain perception and SEA when compared to the IC and PS groups. Conclusion: Because of ethical considerations, a control group design was not possible, thereby limiting the robustness of the findings. Although each technique significantly reduced pain perception and SEA, the combination of IC and PS was superior, apparently because of the complementary nature of the therapeutic interventions.

 
 

Osteopathic Medicine, Cranial Manipulation and Craniosacral Therapy articles.

UPDATED 6/27/2008